When John Down launched ENI Engineering in October of 1993, it was just him and his business partner. “I've always loved making stuff,” he recalls. “And as I've got older, I've really enjoyed organising others to make stuff too.”

Siemens AG (Munich, Germany: www.siemens.com) and Bentley Systems (Exton, Pa.: www.bentley.com) announced today the introduction of PlantSight, resulting from development together based on their highly complementary software portfolios.

Evolution in industry is inevitable and keeping up with the engineering impact is vital for survival. Cast your mind back to the skills, tools and processes from your own beginnings and change is obvious.

The age of smart fabrication is well upon us as previously covered with the Maintenance Engineering Society (MESNZ) network evenings as we stride across the regions but the opportunity to bring the Kaeser Compressors Network Evening series to industry leading Hi-Tech Metals in East Tamaki was an opportunity to understand a little bit more about how this industry sector is coping with its growth pains.

Ground-breaking Engineering Professor Rick Millane has been announced as the recipient of the University of Canterbury's Research Medal 2018, one of the highest awards the University’s Council can bestow.

The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering launches the country’s first Graduate School of Engineering today with the aim of providing the best-possible postgraduate student experience for the next generation of engineers.

The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) is seeking to recruit a dedicated representative for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). The successful candidate will be tasked with becoming a new driving force to work with LEEA’s members in the promotion of excellence and to increase their influence across all end-user markets in both countries.

A Whangarei-based engineering consultancy has used its experience of working in the aftermath of New Zealand's most recent earthquakes to develop an idea for a navigation and data system as part of NZ's effort to facilitate life in space. Christine Allen speaks to Adrian Tonks of Engin.Systems about how his team developed the system which came third in the northern regionals of the NZ Space Challenge this week.

Jobs, huge cash boost from proposed city hub. A new engineering hub proposed for Dunedin is part of apush by New Zealand manufacturers to secure a lucrative slice of Australia's $A200 billion ($NZ214 billion) defence upgrade. Success could help deliver hundreds of new jobs, and tens of millions of dollars, to Dunedin, it has been suggested. The hub concept was being developed by Farra Engineering chief executive Gareth Evans,backed by the Dunedin Engineering Cluster and the Dunedin City Council.

The shutdown allows statutory inspections of equipment across the refinery, along with maintenance work, cleaning and other projects that cannot be carried out while in operation. A critical part of the shutdown will be the 10-day closure of the utilities systems for preventative maintenance. Refining NZ …

The Swedish Steel Prize 2018 finalists have been named, revealing four innovative design concepts that utilize high-strength steel to achieve the highest possible performance. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Stockholm on May 24.

Apr 14 - The forces of nature were on full display in New Zealand but so also were the forces of engineering when the Maintenance Engineering Society visited the Callaghan Institute in Lower Hutt for their Kaeser Compressors Network Evening in April.

Van Dinh Nguyen, a 25-year-old international student studying a three-year mechanical engineering degree at Ara Institute of Canterbury has been named 2018 Student Innovator of the Year by Engineering New Zealand.

Before December, Toi Ohomai engineering student Mandela Petersen knew very little about boats. Ask him now about component weights, pivot points and gravity points and he could rattle off enough figures and equations to leave most of us baffled.

Apr 03, 2018 - NHP Electrical Engineering Products (NHP) announced today the acquisition of Rexel Industrial Automation’s (RIA) New South Wales and South East Queensland business assets related to the distribution and supply of Rockwell Automation products in these territories.

Mar 29, 2018 - The Fellowships, along with this year’s winners of the President’s medals and Maclean citation were conferred in Wellington on Friday 16 March at our annual Fellowship Dinner, sponsored by WSP Opus.

2016 MacDiarmid Medal winner Professor Merryn Tawhai discusses how a fascination with mathematics and biology led her to developing technology for healthcare, and why New Zealand has the capability to become a world leader in this market.

Mar 28, 2018 - Twain Drewett has been appointed to the position of Managing Director, Pilz, Australia and New Zealand, since January 1 this year, following the untimely passing of previous managing director Scott Moffat. His appointment followed an extensive search for the right person to fill this vital role.

Mar 26, 2018 - The Maintenance Engineering Society has hit the ground running in 2018 with a hectic schedule of network evenings ranging from MIT in Auckland to Advanced Boiler Services in Hamilton and Allied Industrial Engineering in Kawerau in the first three months of the year.

The University of Canterbury has officially opened its new School of Product Design. The Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, Hon Dr Megan Woods opened the new Engineering school last night at an official celebration of the realisation of the School, which is part of UC’s College of Engineering.

Russian Federation aluminium behemoth U.C. Rusal announced yesterday that a revolutionary new scandium-aluminium alloy intended for shipbuilding has broken free of the laboratory and entered the testing phase.

Engineering New Zealand today welcomes Dean Kimpton as the new President, three new Board members – Colin Crampton, Tim Fisher and Sina Cotter-Tait – and one re-elected Board member, Geoffrey Farquhar. Mr Kimpton is Auckland Council’s Chief Operating Officer and a passionate advocate for engineers, who he says have a critical role to play on issues that matter to New Zealand. “I am thrilled to take up the role as President of Engineering New Zealand, an organisation that not only supports engineers but sees them as part of the bedrock of our nation’s development. Engineers are vital to the work…

Mar 13, 2018 - Specialising in Compressed Natural Gas products servicing a range of industries, Oasis Engineering is a Tauranga-based company with a global vision. A company renowned for its innovation, product development and customisation Oasis Engineering has been a staple in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) industry since the 1980s. But it was when Andy Cameron brought the company in 2003, that the company really took off.

Seequent, (formerly ARANZ Geo), a world leader in the development of data visualisation software, today announced the release of Leapfrog® Works for the civil engineering and environmental industries. Built on the trusted Leapfrog 3D implicit modelling engine, Leapfrog Works improves understanding, visualisation and communication of subsurface conditions and the interaction with infrastructure.

Feb 6, 2018 - Emirates Engineering has announced an agreement with Qantas for aircraft maintenance, including the stripping and repainting of eight Qantas A380 aircraft starting next month. The aircraft will be repainted with the latest Qantas livery at the state of the art Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre in Dubai. The agreement also covers the replacement of landing gear for one Qantas A380 aircraft by Emirates Engineering this month. "We are delighted to be working with Qantas for maintenance on their A380 aircraft. As the largest operator of Airbus A380s with over 100 aircraft in our fleet, Emirates Engineering has…

5 Feb, 2018 - MITO is thrilled to launch its new training programme that leads to the New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering – a new and innovative programme that significantly enhances the training opportunities in New Zealand’s heavy automotive industry.

An award-winning, pioneering technique for assessing earthquake damage to steel in buildings or bridges will allow engineers to give faster, more reliable information to engineers, with tangible flow-on results for insurers and building owners.

Jan 18, 2018 -PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Norman Disney & Young (NDY), a leader in sustainable infrastructure engineering design. Established in 1959, NDY maintains offices throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region, the United Kingdom, and Canada. NDY incorporates innovative technologies and solutions into designs, helping to create environments that use less energy, recycle water, and provide safe and sustainable infrastructure. “The addition of NDY to our sustainable infrastructure design practice will enable Tetra Tech to offer technically differentiated solutions to our commercial and government clients on…

Dec 22, 2017 - While the inaugural Kaeser Compressors Network Evening in Wellingtons’ Hutt Valley would be expected to generate local interest, it was the comments of director Paul Jessup that delivered as much discussion as the Metco’s new Seaview premises. Metco is owned by Paul Jessup and Brent Greer, two men with a firm grip on running an engineering component supply operation in the digital machine age. Building on its established presence in the Japanese market supplying friction window stays, the company has leapt from strength to strength, necessitating a recent move to the new expanded Seaview premises. Metco…

Dec 20, 2017 - For anyone who has marveled at the richly colored layers in a cafe latte, you're not alone. Princeton researchers, likewise intrigued, have now revealed how this tiered structure develops when espresso is poured into hot milk. "The structure formation in a latte is surprising because it evolves from the chaotic, initial pouring and mixing of fluids into a very organized, distinct arrangement of layers," said Nan Xue, lead author of a paper describing the findings in Nature Communications, and a graduate student in the lab of Howard Stone, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton.…

Dec 15, 2017 - When six Wintec Māori and Pasifika engineering students volunteered for work experience at Longveld recently, they got to work on a very special project. Together they have made the framework for Hamilton’s Matariki Interactive Waka sculpture. The work undertaken by the students on the waka ‘skeleton’ complemented their trade training as it required them to weld and assist with cutting steel while experiencing a real-world workplace. Longveld directors Pam and Les Roa launched their business with little more than a toolbox, a welder and some great trade skills in the early 90s. They celebrate innovation and…

Nov 30, 2017 - Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Susan Freeman-Greene says everything her organisation has done to raise the bar for engineers has been in the shadow of this tragedy. “Today our first thoughts are for those who lost loved ones in the CTV building. We are very aware of the families’ ongoing grief. “We know that the public wants better ways of holding engineers accountable. We’ve changed our rules so that a member can’t resign to avoid a complaint, and we’ve overhauled our complaints process. “Last year we introduced a new Code of Ethical Conduct that sets new…

Nov 30, 2017 - A major tourist attraction that will include a cable car, toboggan rides, zip wire, as well as a restaurant and event venue on Kilvey Hill in Swansea has taken a step forward. Board directors of New Zealand-based Skyline Enterprises have given the green light for the company to start the detailed design process and begin legal discussions for the attraction the will overlook Swansea Bay. Representatives from Skyline Enterprises will now work with Swansea Council to move the deal forward and get it approved. Once an agreement is in place, Skyline Enterprises will start working towards…

Nov 27, 2017 - It has been far too long arriving, but thanks to the enthusiasm of We Can Precision Engineering’s Ricky Pike, the Maintenance Engineering Society (MESNZ) has firmly established its presence in Hawkes Bay with the very first Kaeser Compressors Network Evening. It is appropriate that as the modern face of precision engineering, We Can have taken over the Eric Paton Ltd stock and IP, giving some relief to engineers gutted by the loss of the industry stalwart. Whilst this acquisition is just another feather in the cap of the Hastings based company, their focus on precision, quality…

3 Nov - 'Now is a great time to get involved with forestry, there are many upcoming challenges that require skilled young grads...' Luke Holmes studying towards a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Forest Engineering. Having spent most of his life growing up on a sheep farm, Luke knew that his future career had to involve work in the outdoors. His specific interest centred on harvesting and land development, which led him to Forest Engineering studies. ‘I aim to work within the New Zealand forest sector and be a part of the transition to safer and more productive harvest…

About a year ago, I left my job as a salaried mechanical engineer because I didn’t have as much ownership in my projects as I wanted. I wanted a career with more accountability and engagement with what I was working on, and I wanted more control of how I was spending my time. So I decided to become a freelancer. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to start an engineering consulting firm (which sounds way fancier than freelancer). Being a freelance engineering consultant means you get to pick your clients and projects and be flexible in how you spend your…

31 Oct: "One bump, anything could've made that collapse", Tony Black told Radio NZ having being called out to fix a shopping canopy in an Auckland shopping area. The alarming thing is that this is not an isolated case that the company have been called out to fix with the item raising a number of concerning factors. Continue here to read the full article || October 31, 2017 |||

More than $1 million has been gifted to the University of Auckland Campaign For All Our Futures by Canadian philanthropist John McCall MacBain to create a one of the country’s most prestigious scholarship programmes. The new Kia Tūhura Scholarship Programme will be offered to exceptional postgraduate students with a view to developing the next generation of New Zealand leaders. Initially focusing on the sciences, up to 20 scholarships will be available from 2019, accompanied by a leadership programme. “These scholarships are an incredible opportunity for New Zealand’s top students to prepare for challenging careers and to speak out and lead…

Alien [eyl-yuh n, ey-lee-uh n] a creature from outer space; extraterrestrial. Something that seems strange and perhaps frightening, because it is not part of your normal experience. A foreigner. A woman in STEM. Ever walked into a lecture room and have sets of eyes follow you as if you’ve just landed from a distant galaxy? Or maybe on your first day at work you were tiptoed around as if you were going to kidnap someone and fly away in your flying saucer? Now let’s not get too carried away (pun intended) but as a woman in STEM, at some point…

BOC has launched eight new welding models that offer the latest in welding technology to Australian and New Zealand fabricators and businesses as part of a revamp of its welding range. Richard Fowles, Senior Product Manager of Welding Products, said the new welding range is affordable and easy to use, with advanced electronics and digital control that focus on delivering improved safety and quality. “Safety is a top priority for BOC and our customers. With new legislative changes in electrical safety, our machines now carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) required by all welding manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand.…

IPWEA is the professional organisation providing member services and advocacy for those involved in and delivering public works and engineering service in Australia and New Zealand. Previously known as the Institute of Municipal Engineering Australia (IMEA), the organisation is expanding its traditional local government engineering focus to the broader public works and thereby covering all tiers of government as well as the private sector, where we have over 30% of our membership. Almost all of Australia and New Zealand's professional consultancy firms which specialise in public sector infrastructure including roads, water, power, rail, ports and airports - are members of…

Engineering software firm Aveva has agreed a multibillion-pound tie-up with the software arm of France’s Schneider Electric. The deal, which comes after two failed merger attempts in the past two years, will create an industrial software giant with combined revenues of around £658 million and earnings of some £146 million. The merger will be structured as a so-called reverse takeover, with Schneider folding its software business into Aveva’s operations in return for a controlling 60% stake in the enlarged group. But Aveva will keep its headquarters in Cambridge and remain listed on the London Stock Exchange. Philip Aiken, chairman of…

An article preparred by Dan Hermandez and published earlier this month in The Fabricator. Following specified pipe welding procedures and ensuring proper weld preparation can save significant time and money and ultimately improve productivity of the entire operation. No matter the welding process being used, proper preparation before you get started is key to ensuring quality in the finished weld. Taking the necessary steps to prepare the weld also can reduce the risk of weld failure as well as wasting time and money on rework and consumables. Proper weld preparation in pipe welding helps prevent problems such as weld inclusions,…

MONTREAL — WSP Global is moving to expand its engineering consulting business Down Under in a deal to acquire Opus International Consultants Ltd. valued at $280.5 million including debt. OIC brings with it 3,000 people worldwide including 1,800 in New Zealand where WSP has had a small presence as well as expertise in water-related infrastructure, transportation and asset management. WSP spokeswoman Isabelle Adjahi said the deal, which has the support of OIC's majority shareholder, also brings potential to win bids in New Zealand. "If you look at the market in New Zealand, it's booming in terms of infrastructure," Adjahi said…

Romeo RIM is an injection molding leader,the second word of their name is acronym for reaction injection molding but what sets it apart is its daring innovation. This is the inside look at how the company shook up its core production process and is now prepared to reap the benefits. Continue to read the full article here on Industry Week || August 10, 2017 |||

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is a whole new class of aircraft carrier. Officially commissioned by the U.S. Navy and Newport News Ship Building Company, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier represents the first major redesign to a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in over four decades. When a warship is commissioned, it is legitimized under law, and placed in active service for the first time. Replacing what was known as the Nimitz class of aircraft carriers, the USS Ford will spend its first four years under scrutiny as builder’s sea trials get underway. The trials test crucial systems and technologies aboard…

The company is investing in training and growing local talent to combat a skills shortage in the engineering industry through closer relationships with the regional tertiary provider, Ara Institute of Canterbury. Wyma Solutions Production Manager Michael Anderson says that the company often struggled to find the people it needed, so instead turned to young talent and more investment in training. “We’re growing quickly and we need more highly-skilled people to compete internationally. It’s difficult to find people with the right skillset in the market so we’re investing in apprentice training through Ara to grow our team and our production,” he…

The weather wasn’t friendly but the welcome at Holster Engineering certainly was when a 30 strong crowd of engineers descended on the Tokoroa’s Holster Engineering for the Maintenance Engineering Society’s Kaeser Compressors Network Evening. Bruce, Marty and the staff, 10 of who have been with the company for more than 22 years, provided refreshments and a well appreciated BBQ for those that had made the trek to the South Waikato. The Kaeser Compressors Network Evening series is as much about highlighting the capabilities of local companies as it is about spectacular achievements or interesting maintenance challenges and the Holster Engineering…

The new Kahukura building at Ara Institute of Canterbury, conceived as a teaching tool for engineering students, is ready just in time to host the Week of Engineering Expo in Christchurch on Saturday 5 August from 10am-4pm. Coordinated by IPENZ as part of the national Week of Engineering, the Expo will bring in engineering professionals who can enjoy the innovative new engineering and architectural studies facility ahead of an official opening in August. There is plenty to interest engineers, students and the public at the Expo. Kahukura is among a handful of buildings in Christchurch to utilise local, sustainable timber…

Wintec and Waikato District Council will launch a cadetship programme next year that will create employment opportunities for civil engineering students and ensure the council has a highly skilled and qualified workforce. The cadetship scheme is an opportunity for Wintec students studying the civil elements of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering and the Bachelor of Engineering Technology. Under the scheme, students will work and study part-time for two years before completing one year of bonded employment with Waikato District Council. Wintec Chief Executive Mark Flowers says the scheme is a great example of Wintec working with industry partners to…

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, July 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratasys Asia Pacific, subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, announced today it has expanded its partnership with Ricoh New Zealand Ltd. (Ricoh New Zealand), a subsidiary of Ricoh Company, Ltd. Japan. Ricoh will be representing the entire Stratasys product line, in addition to the existing MakerBot line. The move is aimed to improve the availability of [Stratasys'] 3D printing products and help drive adoption in New Zealand, as well as help local organizations accelerate their transformation to digital manufacturing and maximize business potential. Ricoh…

Engineers say new legislation marks a step forward in improving New Zealand’s building stock. Structural Engineering Society (SESOC) spokesperson Paul Campbell says 1 July was a positive day for engineers and for Councils. “It’s about having a better framework and tools for assessing buildings, which will help improve our building stock and increase our seismic resilience. It also means a more consistent approach to the management of earthquake-prone buildings. “The new legislation will encourage discussion between owners and engineers on how owners can proactively manage and improve buildings.” New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) President Peter Smith says the…

A new wheelchair prototype with an innovative propulsion system has been developed by Massey University engineers that attempts to minimise chronic shoulder and wrist problems for self-propelled wheelchair users, while making it easier for users to travel uphill. The chair, named Ezy-wheels, employs an innovative propulsion method where the user pushes and pulls the chair forward without their hands ever having to leave the pushrim. Dr Claire Flemmer of the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology says conventional manual wheelchairs have not changed in their essential design in over one hundred years and studies have shown that many people develop…

Engineering is a technical business with the specialised skills of engineers needed on projects all over the world. Demonstrating the right qualifying titles at home and overseas is a necessity to working in this global industry, but titles should not hinder qualified engineers. The presidents of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), Peter Wong and Engineers Australia's John McIntosh have taken steps to simplify the transfer of equivalent Australian and International titles and qualifications by renewing a longstanding agreement of mutual recognition last week. The agreement was signed as part of celebrations at the CIBSE Australia and New…

The national society representing maintenance engineering has waded into the recent substandard steel mesh debate with a call for the government to show leadership before a tragedy occurs. Maintenance Engineering Society of New Zealand (MESNZ) Chairman Barry Robinson says his society engaged with the government 7 years ago, highlighting the potential dangers of counterfeit materials. In Mr Robinson’s words, “The problem is endemic across the supply chain from steels and construction materials to stressed engineering elements. We are not talking single tragedies here, but the potential for a significant event taking out multiple lives.” The Maintenance Engineering society has for…

The Engineering e2e programme achieving its goal of 500+ engineering graduates per year by 2017 a year early will be welcome news for industry, says Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Paul Goldsmith. “It’s very pleasing to see all the hard work by Engineering e2e, Futureintech, tertiary institutions, engineering professional organisations and others has really paid off,” Mr Goldsmith says. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has confirmed 511 graduates from priority engineering courses in 2016, a full year ahead of schedule, for a total of 2,151 graduates in 2016. Set up by the Government in 2014, the Engineering –…

Air New Zealand’s Gas Turbines business has been awarded four significant contracts worth up to USD$42 million by the United States Navy to service and overhaul General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbines that power much of the US Navy’s fleet. The contracts will see the Auckland based Gas Turbines team carry out maintenance and overhaul work for the next few years. Air New Zealand Chief Operations Officer Bruce Parton says the contracts are an important win for the airline. “This is a significant boost for our Gas Turbines business. Air New Zealand participated in a competitive bidding process to secure this…

SouthMACH is the South Island’s premier technology trade show celebrating the heartland of NZ Manufacturing. If you are an Engineer - Mechanical, Design, Consultant, Electrical. Machinist, Communications Technician/Manager, Supervisor, Technical Operator, Operations Manager, or similar, Southmach offers the tools, technology and services to work smarter. An exhibitor to look out for this year is Kormax. Kormax hold the largest range of metals for the engineering industry in New Zealand; from Bronze, Brass, Copper, Cast-Iron and Aluminium along with Bronze Bushes, Oilite Bushes and Key Steel. These materials are stocked in various different profiles from solid and round bar, flat bar,…

For the last 14 weeks I have been undertaking one of my most ambitious works to date. Not ambitious in terms of size (although it is a largish piece), but more of a personal record in terms of the substantial number of parts I was required to make to execute this idea. It is a design with well over a thousand individually machined parts. If you count spare parts (I always make extras), almost 1100. While still a healthy size as far a machined metal sculptures go, it is by far the largest parts count I have ever attempted. I…

For developing the Helix Dumper, an innovative wagon solution that is highly durable and far more efficient than other ore wagon offerings, Kiruna Wagon has been named a finalist for the Swedish Steel Prize 2017. The Swedish Steel Prize is an international prize that honors the art of engineering and innovation in the steel industry. This year Kiruna Wagon from Sweden, is one of four finalists for this year’s prize, which will be awarded during a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden on May 11 a path that New Zealand's A-Ward Attachments trod on their journet to taking out the 2012 award…

Experts from New Zealand and around the world will attend the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering’s annual technical conference in Wellington this week. Conference convenor Dr David Whittaker says about 500 earthquake engineers and scientists will meet to exchange knowledge on a range of topics, including the impacts of the Kaikoura Earthquake and how to make building structures more resilient to large earthquakes. Dr Whittaker says around 100 international delegates will present papers and updates from the United States, Japan, China, Taiwan and Turkey. NZSEE President Peter Smith says the conference is a chance to share the latest thinking…

Most people’s encounters with CNC machining happen either before factory installation—in advertisements or at tradeshows—or afterward, when the machine is already up and running. Unless you take part in an installation personally, you don’t often get the opportunity to see all the intermediate steps: prepping the factory floor, unloading the machine, bringing it into the facility and getting it in place. Fortunately, Norwegian drone manufacturer, GRIFF Aviation recently released a video documenting the company’s receipt and installation of a Mazak Integrex i-400 multi-tasking machine. Check out the video here The Integrex i-400 combines the capabilities of a turning center and…

The latest release of Autodesk’s Advance Steel 2018 promises to both streamline the 3D modeling tool and improve interoperability with other Autodesk software, such as Revit, Navisworks and AutoCAD. This article will examine the software's new features, and explain how they impact the architects, structural engineers and construction workers who use it. Figure 1 above – Advance Steel 2018 adds 130 parametric steel connections that may be transferred to the Revit model. Image courtesy of Autodesk. Improved Level of Detail The first big highlight is Advance Steel 2018's ability to offer “seamless consumption of LOD 350 Revit models.” LOD, short…

The 2017 Young Engineer of the Year is Rocket Lab’s Lachlan Matchett, it was announced at the IPENZ Fellows’ and Achievers’ Awards in Wellington last night. Aged 26, Lachlan has led a large team of engineers to design and deliver Rocket Lab’s innovative Rutherford Engine. The other two finalists for Young Engineer of the Year were Virginie Lacrosse of Tonkin + Taylor, who has been at the forefront of liquefaction work in Christchurch, and Oliver Whalley, who has been working on sustainable transport in the Pacific for the World Bank. Other awards announced last night included the William Pickering Award…

Craig Price is the new President of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ). Mr Price has had a long career with engineering consultancy Beca. He is currently South Island Regional Manager and Chair of Beca’s New Zealand business. IPENZ currently has a record 19,000 members across all fields of engineering. Mr Price takes office during a significant period of change for IPENZ, with the organisation adopting a new direction and membership structure. “This will be another big year of change, as we deliver on our strategies to drive increased credibility and influence for our members.” Mr Price says…

Design standards and building laws will be reviewed in response to an investigation into structural damage to Wellington’s Statistics House in the Kaikōura earthquake, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith says. Dr Smith today released an independent panel’s findings into the performance of the building during the 14 November 2016 quake, focussing on its design and construction, and the land influences on it. “The performance of Statistics House in the Kaikōura earthquake was unacceptable and could have caused fatalities. This quake was large and unusually long but a modern building like Statistics House should not have had life-threatening structural…

Engineers say results from the Statistics House investigation will help build more resilient buildings. New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) President Peter Smith says every earthquake provides new information on how to improve building design. “Investigations like this are crucial to making our buildings safer. We need to gain access to detailed information on how other buildings performed, to help widen understanding of whole-of-building performance. “Statistics House illustrated how different factors can combine in unexpected and unprecedented ways. “In Wellington, this earthquake most severely affected mid-height buildings. Because the earthquake was so far away, only low-frequency waves made it…

NZ’s investment in infrastructure creating jobs Global engineering and advisory firm Aurecon, will be recruiting approximately 30 graduates around the country[1] in 2017, as part of its annual graduate recruitment programme. With the release of the latest instalment of the Government’s Ten Year Capital Intentions Plan (CIP) in 2016, the Government is showing its commitment to a pipeline of $100.9 billion worth of infrastructure projects over the next decade in New Zealand. Aurecon’s New Zealand Regional Director, Carl Devereux, said, “While the majority of the investment over the past few years has been in road infrastructure and the restoration of…

Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path more fair or flat; Lo, it is black already with blood some Son of Martha spilled for that! Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness to any creed, But simple service simply given to his own kind in their common need. -From Rudyard Kipling’s The Sons of Martha, 1907 For as long as humans have been around, we’ve had an obsession with being first. Hillary and Norgay are immortalized as the first to conquer Everest. Neil Armstrong will forever be remembered as…

AECOM, the world’s biggest engineering firm, plans to spend billions of dollars on acquisitions amid expectations for growing U.S. funding of road, rail, water and energy projects, Chief Executive Officer Michael Burke said. “We’ll look to be the largest infrastructure firm in the world -- both construction and design,” Burke said Monday in an interview at Bloomberg’s Los Angeles bureau. “I’ve got to spend $3.5 billion, and we think it’ll be spent on good, solid strategic acquisitions. We will grow organically also.” Infrastructure spending by the U.S. government is likely to grow because it’s one of the few priorities shared…

Getting the first three steel girders for the new Kawarau Falls Bridge to Queenstown, from Napier, wasn’t an easy task, says NZ Transport Agency Senior Project Manager Phil Dowsett. The girders, weighing in at more than 22 tonnes, were fabricated in Napier by Eastbridge , a firm which specialise in bridge steel fabrication. “The original plan was to transport the girders by rail but the 14 November, 2016 earthquake left the main rail trunk line impassable between Kaikoura and Blenheim,” says Phil Dowsett. “The McConnell Dowell team needed to find another way to get the steel girders to Queenstown efficiently,…

Anglo-Australian mining titan Rio Tinto announced the award of a US$45 million to the New Zealand civil construction firm Fulton Hogan. The contract, which is for the construction of a dam at the Amrun bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, was announced last Wednesday. The project will have Fulton Hogan’s Queensland division constructing a 10.9-gigaliter (2.9 billion gallon) dam as well as an impoundment area, embankment, intake infrastructure, spillway, fishway, and access corridor. A name for the dam has already been selected as well – “Arraw,” chosen by the area’s Traditional Owners, which is the native population’s name for the…

Leading New Zealand civil engineering and resource company, Fulton Hogan, has been recognised with a major international award for innovation.Fulton Hogan picked up the Premier Award in the Innovation Achiever’s Award category as part of the UK based Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) International Innovation and Research Awards, announced in London earlier this week. Fulton Hogan, New Zealand Chief Executive Robert Jones, says the company is delighted with the award. “We are proud to receive this external recognition for our overall programme to encourage and develop innovative ideas from our 6,000 strong workforce, whether it’s from the workers on the…

Amid the uncertainty over U.S. immigration policy, one fact is sending a chill through U.S. higher education: Some U.S. graduate programs in engineering, Science has learned, are seeing a sharp drop this year in the number of applications from international students. University administrators worry that the declines, as much as 30% from 2016 levels in some programs, reflect heightened fears among foreign-born students that the United States is tightening its borders. A continued downturn, officials say, could threaten U.S. global leadership in science and engineering by shrinking the pool of talent available to carry out academic research. It could also…

On 1 February 2017, we merged with traffic and transportation engineering specialists, T2, creating a new business called HGT2. This is the first merger in our 131-year history and is a significant milestone for both companies. ‘Much thought and effort has gone into our decision to merge with T2 and we’re excited about the new opportunities it will create and the additional specialist services we can offer clients,’ says our Managing Director, Glen Cornelius. T2 employs people in Auckland and Wellington. Its services include transportation planning studies, transport assessments, economic analyses, detailed design, safety studies and assessment, policy development and…

Unprecedented infrastructure investment projections across New Zealand, Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region have prompted Tonkin + Taylor to launch a massive UK-based talent drive. The boom years ahead are being driven by both the public and private sectors, with the New Zealand Government alone earmarking $NZ50 billion for large-scale infrastructure projects over the next 10 years. In a similar vein, the New South Wales Government has announced a $AUS20 billion plan to “turbocharge” the NSW economy. T+T intends to stay ahead of the game and our new recruitment-focused website is already up and running at www.tonkintaylor.co.nz/careers/working-in-new-zealand Next month our…

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has appointed University of Auckland’s Deputy Dean of Engineering, Margaret Hyland as its new Chief Scientist. "We are delighted to announce Margaret’s appointment as Chief Scientist. This crucial leadership role will be important as we implement the National Statement of Science Investment, and will contribute to the deepening relationships between the Ministry and the science community," says Paul Stocks, Deputy Chief Executive Labour, Science and Enterprise. Margaret, who is Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Auckland, holds a PhD from the University of Western Ontario in Canada and…

Engineers are concerned about the risk that earthquake-prone buildings pose to public safety in the Wellington region, and fully support the Government’s move to compel building owners to secure facades. New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) President Peter Smith says during this period of increased earthquake risk in Wellington, Lower Hutt, Marlborough and Hurunui, it’s important to secure facades and speed up remedial work. "These facades need to be secured, particularly because many of them are in popular retail areas like Cuba Street, Riddiford Street and Jackson Street. "Engineers are very conscious of the lives lost when facades collapsed…

You don’t get much closer to the spirit of engineering than in the beginnings of waterjet cutting. “I got started years ago, in about ’71,” said Dr. John Olsen, one of the originators of waterjet technology and currently VP of operations at Omax Abrasive Waterjets. “I had been reading about some experiments done on rock cutting in England and a friend of mine and I thought it would be fun to try and build a pump and cut something. That was a kind of back-alley operation; it was in my garage and his garage.” Dr. John Olsen is pictured above…

Engineers take home an average of nearly $100,000 a year and their salaries are growing strongly, according to the annual IPENZ Remuneration Survey. Engineers’ median base salary grew by 6.3 per cent in the year to October 2016. According to Statistics New Zealand, average wage inflation in the year to June 2016 was 1.5 per cent. Engineers’ median base salary is $92,500, with another $5500 on top of that in bonus or other payments. The survey reveals that in the very first year of their career, engineers earn an average of $55,000 plus another $2000 in cash benefits. Institution of…

The expression “balls to the wall” has far less to do with male anatomy and quite possibly far more to do with the mechanical engineering genius of the steam engine. Of course, almost nobody would know an exact reason for why the expression came to be so commonplace. You can kind of deduce it means that you’re going all-out, or perhaps giving it all you’ve got. The expression and that meaning actually likely originated with the steam engine; specifically the centrifugal governor used to keep things from blowing up. Of course these origins are always contested, but his one seems…

After questions were raised about six buildings in Masterton by one of our members, IPENZ alerted the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). This resulted in initial seismic assessments of these six buildings, followed by more detailed assessments, which raised questions about the engineering of the buildings.. There have also been assessments of a number of other buildings. IPENZ is commencing an own-motion inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the engineering design and construction of these six buildings in Masterton. IPENZ cares deeply about public trust and confidence in our engineers and we need to get to the bottom of…

IPENZ | Our finalists for the Young Engineer of the Year 2017 have been chosen from an incredibly high-calibre group of candidates! Congratulations to Lachlan Matchett, Oliver Whalley and Virginie Lacrosse on becoming our finalists. Our entrants are judged in six areas: Progress made in the development of career as an engineer Demonstration of excellence in a significant engineering project or activity Peer and other recognition Professional body involvement and achievements High standards of ethical and personal behaviour Communication skills They will give a ten minute presentation to support their application at an event hosted by the IPENZ Auckland branch…

A new-concept welding facility opened by BOC at its Rocklea site in Brisbane is set to be an exciting new hub for product applications and testing, research and development, and training. The facility will primarily be used to demonstrate the latest in welding, cutting and heating technology and automation and contains the latest generation digital welding equipment, GMAW and GTAW arc projectors and a Kawasaki RA 10L robot equipped with a Servo Robot PowerCam laser vision camera and EWM alpha Q 352 welding package (built by BOC’s automation partner Robot Technologies-Systems Australia). BOC Technical Manager Peter Kuebler explains the investment…